Brake-lever strut



c. H. WILLIAMS,`JI.

BRAKE LEVER STBUT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1909.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

/N VE N TOE cHHELas H. WILL/.HMS Je.

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CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BRAKE-LEVER, sTIsUT.

specification of Letters rumt.

Patented Mar. 8,1910- To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful. Improvement in Brake- Lever Struts, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichl Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brake lever strut of `my improved construction showing the compression and tension members of the brake beam in section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2, of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 3, of Fig` 2.

My invention relates to an improved brake lever strut particularly designed for use on either right or left hand beams, which strut is provided with an adjustable member which receives the brake lever pivot 1n. p The object of my invention is to provide a simple inexpensive strut, the main body portion of which may be rocked from one side to the other so as to accommodate brake levers of right or left hand beams, said strut vbeing provided with a block which is adjustable longitudinall in the body of said strut, on which mem er'the brake lever is fulcrumed. The adjustable pivot pin block may, with slight modifications, be advantageously used in connection with struts on so-called solid beamsor any struts which are not reversible.

To the above purposes, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arran ement of parts hereinafter more fully descrlbed and claimed'.

`As shownin the drawings, the main body portion of m im roved strut comprises a pair of paral el si e walls 1 longitudinally `slotted as-designated by 2 and uniting thel lower portions of said walls is a bottom plate 3 which is provided with a longitudinallydis osed slot 4. Formed integral with theV en s of the body ofthe strut are tubular studs 5` which are interiorly screw-threaded, one of which studs is swiveled in a sleeve' 6 which embraces the central portion of the compression member 7 of the brake beam, the opposite stud being swiveled in a block 8 which engages the central portion of the tension member of the beam. Threaded bolts 9 are screw-seated in the studs 5, said bolts being provided with disk heads 10 which occupy positions in' the ends of the body of the strut, and formed through the bolts, adjacent their heads are diamctrically arranged apertures 11 which are adapted to receive a suitable tool used for screw- Ingthe bolts backward or forward in the tubular studs.

12 designates the adjustable pivot pin block through the center of which is formed an, openlng 13 and formed through the walls at the sides of said openin are a ertures 14. Formed in the ends 0% 12 are recesses or pockets 15 in which the heads 10 Lof the bolts 9 are seated when the parts of the strut are assembled. The block 12 occupies a position between the walls 1 and rests upon the bottom plate 3 and when so positioned the slot or opening 13 in said block coincides with the slot 4 in the bottom plate 3. -"The brake lever 16 passes through the opening 13 in the block 12 and said lever is plvoted or fulcrumed upon a pin 17 which asses throu the aperture 11.1L formed 1n the sides of the block and through a corresponding opening formed in sald lever.

By swiveling the tubular studs 5 in the sleeve 6 and block 8, the main body portion of the strut cari-yin the pivot pin block can readily be shifted m one osition' to another, 'thus accommodating t e .brake lever at any angle, and such construction transforms the beam on which the strut is used from a right hand to a left hand beam or vice-versa.

The pivot pin block 12, in which the brake lever is fulcrumed, is adjusted longitudinally inthe strut by screwing the bolts 9 backward or forward through the tubular studs 5, which movement is accomplished by engaging a suitable tool in the apertures 11. This construction provides for the adjustment of the fulcrumed point of the brake lever to suit diierent conditions, and the adjustable bolts 9 seated in the tubular studs 5 readily maintain the pivot pin block in position after adjustment.

the b ock brake lever.

From the above -it will be seen that the housing 2 serves as the strut proper for the trussed structure, but does not transmit any of the strains imparted through the In view of the fact that the adjustable mounting for the brake' lever is under no strain incident to the camber of the beam, it is possible to very easily rotate the screws 'to adjust the lever mounting when the lever and pin are removed.

A strut of my improved construction is comparatively simple, comprises a minimum number of parts, is adapted for use on either composite or solid beams and is easily and uickly adjusted.

It will be readil understood that minor changes can'be ma e in the construction and form of my improved strut without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I c laim is: A

1. The combination with a brake beam strut, of a movable pivot pin block therein, and longitudinal adjustable means seated in the ends of the strut for shifting the position of said block.

2. The combination with a' reversible brake beam strut, of a brake lever pivot pin block arranged in the strut and longitudinal adjustable means located in the ends of said strut for shifting the position of said block.

3. The combination with a brake lever strut, of a movable pivot pin block arranged therein, and longitudinal adjustable means connecting the ends of said blockwith the ends of the strut. I

4. The combination with a brake lever strut, of a movable pivot pin block arranged therein, adjustablel means connecting the ends of said block with the ends of the strut, and swiveled members on the ends of the strut for engagin the com ression and tension members of t e brake eam.

5. The combination with a brake lever strut, of a movable pivot pin block Within the strut, and bolts screw-seated in the ends of the strut and engaging the ends of said block.

6. The combination with a brake lever strut, of a movable pivot in block wit-hin the strut, bolts screW-seateld in the ends of the strut and engaging the ends of said block, and members swiveled on the ends of the strut for engaging the compression and j tension members of the brake beam.

7. A brake lever strut comprising a slotted body, members swiveled on the ends thereof for engaging the compression and tension members of a brake beam, a pivot pin carrying block loosely arranged in the slotted body, and adjustable means mounted in the ends'of said slotted body and engaging the ends of the block.

8. The combination with a brake beam strut having a reversible body portion, of a mov'- able pivot block arranged in vthe body portion, an means seated in the ends of the body for shifting the position of the block.

9. In a brake lever strut, a slotted body,

a movable pivot pin block therein, and longitudinal adjustable means seated in the ends of the body for shifting the position of the block.

10. In a brake beam strut, a slotted body, l

a movable pivot 'in block therein and longltudinal adjusta le means connecting the ends of the slotted body with the ends ofv the block.

11. In a vbrake beam strut, a slottedbod a movable pivot pin block therein, adj ustable means connecting the ends of the slotted body with the ends of the block, and swiveled members on the vends of the strut for engaging the compression and tension members of the brake beam.

12. A strut for a brake beam, comprising a slotted body, reversibly positioned between the compression and tens1on members of a brake beam, a pivot in block adjustably arranged in the slotte body and means uniting the ends of the block and the slotted vbody for holding said block after A'adjustment.

13. The combination with a reversible strut for brake beams, of a movable pivot pin block within the strut, there being recesses formed inthe ends of said block and adjusting devices connecting the ends of the strut with the end's of the block, the inner ends of which adjusting devices are seated in the recesses in the block.

14. The combination with a reversible strut for brake beams, of a movable pivot pin block within the strut, there bein recesses formed in the ends of said bloc adjusting devices connecting the ends of the strut with the ends of the block, the inner ends of which adjusting devices are seated in the recesses, in the block, and swiveled members on the ends of the strut for engaging the compression and tension members of the brake beam.

15. The combination with a reversible strut for brake beams, of a movable pivot pin block within the strut, and screw bolts seated in the ends of the strut, the inner ends of which are loosely seated in the ends o the block.

' 16. A strut for brake beams having threaded ends, in combination with a lever mounting engaging said threaded ends and which lever mounting transmits all of the lever strains.

17. A hollow strut for brake beams, combined with an -adj ustable lever mounting, and means for locking said mounting in its adjusted positions within the strut, said mounting engagin both ends of said strut. and transmitting a of the lever strains.

1S. A lever mounting for brake beams signature in the resence of two witnesses, having threaded projections at its ends, in thls 2nd day of uly 1909.

combination with a hollow strut with which. it Coperates- CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, JR.

l?. A lever mounting for -brake beams Witnesses:

having threaded parts swiveled n its ends. EDWARD T. 'WALKER,

Tn testimony whereof I hereunto aix my J osEPH W. WEINLAND. 

